It's a Shore Thing

Bali's Shore Lines Under Severe Threat of Erosion.

(7/11/2005) According to a report carried in the Indonesian-language daily Kompas the erosion of Bali's shoreline is at a critical stage.

Quoting, Nyoman Ray Yusha, the Head of the Project for preserving Bali's Southern Coast, more than 70 kilometers of Bali's 530 kilometers of coast line has been destroyed through erosion representing a real threat to the island's future as a premier tourism destination.

Speaking at a meeting in Denpasar on June 13, 2005, Ray, together with a shoreline consultant Sutarto Atmodjo, said that only 38 kilometers of Bali's shore line preservation is being managed – primarily in Bulelang, Tabanan, Sanur and Nusa Penida. The remaining shore areas, according to the two experts, remain neglected and are likely to suffer increasing damage over time.

Who's to Blame?

The experts pointed to nature and man as the main culprits to blame for shoreline erosion. According to Sutarto, mankind is due the lion's share of the blame as the result of shore-line coral destruction, uncontrolled sand mining, destruction of mangroves forests, and constructing buildings too close to the shore line. Because of this, both Ray and Sutarto called for more education of the people and enforcement of existing rules to preserve and protect Bali's beaches.

Both men said Bali needs a master plan to guarantee the future of the shore lines.

More information: http://www.balidiscovery.com/messages/message.asp?Id=2509